Receiving box



April 16, 1935. J. l. UNGER El AL RECEIVING BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1932 5 We: M UN .5 2% M5 .MN .fi m G E 3 l 5 l w/ a m u 0 M m 9 .m 3 o 72 *0 April 16,1935. UN E A 1,997,707

RECEIVING BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2," 1932 i i f 2 Tic-.14.

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Patented Apr. 16, 1935 I UNITED. STATES PATENT Price RECEIVING BOX Joseph I. Unger and John E. Mannen, i Cleveland, Ohio 7 Application December 2, 1932, Serial No. 645,456

' ,8 Claims. (Cl. 232-41) This invention has to do with a construction tacle or box is designed, it may be noted that of a receptacle or compartment especially adaptthe receptacle includes a box adapted to be seed to receive articles and to retain sucharticles cured to the outside of a door, or similar locasecure from unauthorized access pendingcollections convenient for the depositing therein of 5 tion thereof. r domestic delivery articles. This box is. provided 5 The inventionhas especially to do with a. re- With a hinged lid or closure member, having ceptacle intended for domestic use, wherein housenovel locking instrumentalities which will be hold deliveries may be made and rendered secure hereinafter described indetail, which instrumenagainst tampering until the articles placed in talities are automatically operable incident to 10 the receptacle are collected. the closing of the lid to lock the lid against any 10 It is well known that many-times articles deopening thereof until the locking instrumentalilivered by tradesmen for household use are freties are released by actuation of actuating dequently left in places exposed to weather or theft, vices positioned interior-1y of the door, and thereespecially in the event that the deliveries are by rendered available only to an individual accesmade in the mornings, or at such times when there sible to the actuating devices. Upon suitable oper- 15 is no one available to receive them; and freation of these devices, the locking instrumentaliquently the receiving of such articles occasions ties may be readily released for the convenient a substantial amount of inconvenience to the collection or removal of articles deposited within household. 7 r the box, which meanwhile have been secured It will be apparent that, while the improved against molestation by unauthorized individuals 20 device is especially designed for the purpose of or prowling animals. The i p mechanism receiving such articles and for rendering them includes instrumentalities whereby, immediately secure, until conveniently collected, against acupon release of the locking dev the cover will cess by unauthorized individuals, the improved automatically p receptacle is adapted, obviously,.for a wide range The invention may take many different forms 25 of use, as will be determined by the individual embracing the same general principles, several of case, or purpose for which the receptacle, or comwhich forms are illustrated in the accompanying partment, is desired to be employed. drawings, and the details of which will be fully Although the device is of general adaptation, set forth hereinafter.

it is especially intended that it be installed on In the drawings: 7 30 V the outside of a door or other Wall support and Figure l is a vertical sectional View of a comoperated from the inside of the door without repartment, box, or receptacle embracing certain quiring the door to be opened until such time novel features included in this invention.

as it is convenient to remove the articles placed Figure 2 is a side view.

therein. This materially reduces the amount of Figure 3 is a top view. 35 exposure, especially in cold or inclement weather, Figure 4 is a detailed fragmentary sectional t0 Which a household ocmlpant is u ected in view through the top part of the receptacle, showreceiving these articles when delivered. ing the construction and actuation of the locking To this end, the invention contemplates the d ic for th boxlid,

40 i lu o of improved locking instrumentalities Figure 5 is a similar view, but showing the auto- 40 which are releasable by mechanism operable from n opening responsive t release of t 1ock the inside of the room through devices extending mg instrumenta1ities through the door or wall support and into the Figure 6 is a View Showing the lid in open receptacle. Sition These locking instrumentalities include devices which, upon release, automatically open thecover g 1s i fs g figg i l gg i ggg of the receptacle, so that the deliveries may be mg 1 0 00 g placed therein, and then snap into locking posithose illustrated m the prgcedmg tion when the cover is closed by the individual Flgure 8 fragmentary Vlew showl ng one making the delivery, so that, except for the operpf Sprmg member adapted for Opemng the 50 ating devices, the locking instrumentalities are box 11d upon unlocking thereofentirely inaccessible when the cover of the box Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectlonal View has been h t 1 ilar to Figure 4, but showing, a modified form of With suchadaptation for general use in mind, lid releasing device suitable for use when the box 55 for the principal purpose for which the recepis divided into a plurality of compartments. 55

Figure is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I0I0 of Figure 11.

Figure 11 is a top view of a box arranged into a plurality of separate compartments, each of which is desirably provided with an independently operable cover, the view showing common releasing instrumentalities for the covers.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of another form of spring for actuating the box lid, which also serves as a locking for the lid.

Figure 13 is a plan view of a washer employed for retaining the releasing instrumentalities in position.

Figure 14 is a sectional view through the washer of Figure 13, taken on the line I-II4 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary section showing the mounting of a locking pin or lug employed for locking the cover in place when closed, and

Figure 16 is a view thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows of line I8I6 of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a detail view of the lid releasing device, showing the means provided for adjusting the length thereof in accordance withthe thickness of the door or other mounting of the box.

Figure 18 is a sectional view through the device of Figure 17, taken on the line I8I8 of Figure 17, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 19 is a sectional view on the line I9I9 of Figure 17, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings, referring first to the form of invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, it will be seen that the invention embraces a compartment, receptacle, or box, I having a cover or lid 2 connected to the box I by means of a hinge 3.

The box I is shown as being mounted in position upon a wall support such as a door, or equivalent mounting l, by means of suitable securing devices 5, which may be screws or bolts passed into the mounting 4 through suitable holes in the walls of the box. It will be understood that this box is located where articles may be conveniently placed therein, so that upon closing and locking of the lid, the articles are rendered inaccessible against theft or molestation.

For this purpose on the inside of the box, at a convenient point therein, is suitably secured a locking lug or pin 6 adapted to engage with an opening I in a leaf spring 8 riveted or otherwise secured as at 9 to the bottom of the lid 2.

The shape of the spring is one of the principal features of this invention, since it enables an automatic lifting of the lid when the spring is released from the locking lug, or catch 6. This feature will be described in more detail hereinafter, when considered with reference to the instrumentalities employed for releasing the spring from looking engagement with the catch.

The releasing instrumentalities are mounted in the door 4, in such a manner as to be accessible from the side of the door opposite to that upon which the box I is secured. Into a suitable recess I8 cut into this door there are positioned the aforesaid releasing instrumentalities which include a plunger rod II having a rounded end I2 extending interiorly of the box I through an opening I3 in the walls of the box so that the end I2 of this rod will be positioned adjacent the inward bent portion I I of the spring 8. It will be noted that the spring 8 is generally of an inwardly bent configuration, but that the portion I4 isfurther bent so as to ride in an upward direction against the rounded end l2 of the rod II when the rod is pushed against the spring.

The rod II is provided with an enlarged head I5 forming a collar against which acts the springs I6 so that the projection ll of the head I5 forming a collar against which acts the II retracted out of engagement with the spring 8 in a manner which will be obvious from the drawings. The parts II, I5, and Il may be integral, and the resulting releasing device or plunger is secured in its mounting by means of a washer I8 having a hole I9 'therethrough, through which hole is passed the extension I'I. It will be obvious that when this device is assembled, the parts II, I5, I6, and I! are suitably positioned within the recess I 0 with the end I2 of the rod projecting within the interior of the box I. The washer I8 is then secured in position around the extension I1 by means of screws or other fastening devices I9a inserted through holes 20 in the washer.

It will be seen, therefore, that when the lid 2 is closed, the spring 8 will engage the catch 5 because of the inherent resiliency of the spring, and as soon as the opening I in the spring registers with the catch 6, the spring 8 snaps into locking engagement with the catch and holds the lid 2 securely locked, thereby preventing access to the interior of the box until the spring is released.

As has been indicated previously, this release is effected by pressing upon the extension or but ton I! so that the releasing device is moved inwardly against the pressure of the spring I6 sufiiciently to engage the end I2 of the rod against the portion II of the spring. This action presses the spring inwardly out of engagement with the catch 6, and because of the configuration of the part ll of the spring, it will cam upwardly along the end of the rod, thus automatically releasing the lid and causing the lid to fly open. The box is then accessible for the reception of whatever articles are to be placed therein.

When these articles have been placed into the box, the lid 2 is closed, and the portion ll of the spring will serve to properly guide the spring in its movement against the catch 6 until the opening 1 snaps over this catch, thereby again locking the box; and since the releasing device is inaccessible to a prowler, the articles deposited in the box will be maintained secured safe from disturbance until such time as they may be conveniently removed.

In the modification shown in Figure 7, there is illustrated a somewhat diii'erent type of looking mechanism, the principle of operation of which however is similar to that already previously described. In this modification there is employed a bracket 2I secured by rivets 22 to the underside of the cover 2. In this bracket there is slidably positioned a latch 23, held normally in extended position by the spring 24 positioned at the rear of the latch 23. The latch 23 is thereby held in locking engagement with a catch 25 mounted on the wall of the box I, there being positioned intermediate this catch 25 and the cover 2 a leaf spring 26 tending to act against the cover to force it open as soon as the latch 23 is withdrawn from engagement with the catch 25. The spring 26 is secured to the bracket 25 by a screw or equivalent fastening members 21.

To effect withdrawal of the latch 23 in order to release the cover, the latch is provided with all an extension 28 which is adapted to be engaged,

by the rod H when the latter is positioned inwardly as described above. As soon as the latch 23 is released, the spring 26 opens the cover 2 so that the articles may be deposited in the box. Upon closing the cover, the latch 23,'being maintained in extended position through action of spring 24, will engage the catch 25, but because of the curved end of the latch 23, continued closing movement of the cover will press the latch backwardly against pressure of spring 24 until the latch has passed the catch 25, when the spring 25 snaps it into locking position, thus securing the cover. V

If desired, the box I may be sub-divided into a plurality of compartments, as indicated at 29, see Figure 11, each of which compartments is provided with its own cover, which covers may be independent of each other, so that certain of the covers may be locked in position for securing articles placed in' the corresponding compartments, while the remaining covers are still released for enabling the remaining compartments to be maintained accessible for receiving additional articles to be placed into the box.

In this form of the invention, each cover may be provided with either form of locking devices previously described, there being illustrated the use of a spring and catch of the type illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive. It is desirable, however, to release these covers simultaneously, and for this purpose, the rod H may carry a bar 30 extending through the compartment walls by virtue of slots 3! provided therein, which slots guide the rod 30 in its movement. It is believed that the operation of this form of the invention will be obvious from the foregoing.

It is obvious that the doors or other mountings for the box are not of standard thickness, so that, unless means be provided for enabling the releasing instrumentalities previously described to be shortened where the thickness of the mounting may require it, as otherwise the rod H might be too long for. suitable release of the locking devices. Such means are indicated in Figure 17, wherein the rod i! is shown as provided with, along its length, sections 32 cut, as indicated at 33, so that the sections 32 maybe broken off as required from the remainder of the rod. The length of this rod may therefore be made to compensate for the thickness of the mounting upon which the box is secured.

It will be observed that in all cases the releasing instrumentalities extending through the wall support form a plunger which is controlled remotely from the receptacle for releasing the otherwise inaccessible latch within the receptacle. It will be also seen that the curved end portions of the spring latch fingers provide a camming surface which has a component of incline intersecting the lines of travel of the cover plate during pivotal movement, whereby pressure exerted laterally against the spring finger at the camming surface, see part I 4 of the spring finger 8 for example, will stress the spring finger both laterally and longitudinally upon engagement of the plunger rod ll therewith so as to release the engagement of the spring finger with the cooperating catch detent 6, the longitudinal stressing of the spring finger causing the cover plate 2, Figure 2, to spring pivotally away from the latching position of the spring finger. Ob-

'viously, the interior latch mechanism is, in each form of the invention, accessible when the lid is closed only through operation of the plunger extending through the wall support.

It may be noted in connection with the modification shown in Figure '7, that the bracket 2i is provided with a slot 28a through which extends the projection 28, which is screwed into the latch member 23. The slot 2811 thus limits the movement of the latch and retains the latch properly in position within the bracket 2 I.

If desired, the receptacles may be suitably insulated against heat and cold in any desired mannor as by the provision of an asbestos lining, not shown.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A receptacle of the character described, adapted tobe mounted upon one side of a door or equivalent mounting. means, the said receptacle havinga cover, a hinge interconnecting the g cover and receptacle, locking'rneans disposed interiorly of the receptacle for securing the cover in locked position to render. inaccessible articles placed within the receptacle and instrumentalities for releasing the locking means and extending through the said mounting means and interiorly of the receptacle, the instrumentalities being accessible for operation only. from the side of the door or equivalent mounting means opposite to the side upon which the receptacle is mounted, the said locking means including devices engageable with the releasing instrumentalities and having a portion shaped to cooperate with the release of the locking means.

2. A- receptacle of the character described adapted to be mounted upon one side of a door or equivalent mounting means, the said receptacle having a cover, a hinge interconnecting the cover and receptacle, locking means disposed interiorly of the receptacle for securing the'cover in locked position to render inaccessible articles placed within the receptacle, and instrumentalities mounted within the door or equivalent mounting means and accessible from the side thereof opposite to that upon which the receptacle is mounted, for releasing the locking means, the said locking means including devices for automatically opening the cover of the receptacle incident to release of the locking means.

3; A receptacle of the character described adapted to be mounted upon a wall support, the

said receptacle having a cover pivoted to the receptacle, a spring latch finger fixed to the cover and extending therefrom in the direction of lines of travel of the cover during its pivotal movement and transversely of the axis of the pivot, a cooperating catch member for engagement with the spring finger when the cover is in closed position, and a plunger extending tlmough the wall support and into the receptacle for engaging with the spring latch finger and controlled remotely from the receptacle for releasing the spring finger from the catch, the spring finger being curved to provide a camming surface having a component of incline intersecting the lines of travel of the cover during pivotal movement thereof, whereby pressure exerted laterally against the spring finger at the camming surface will stress the spring finger both laterally and longitudinally, the former to release the engagement of the spring finger with the cooperating catch and the latter to spring the cover plate pivinstrumentalities for automatically I opening the cover of the receptacle incidentto otally away from the latching position of the spring finger.

4. A receptacle of the character described adapted to be mounted upon a wall support, the said receptacle having a cover, a hinge interconnecting the cover and receptacle, a lug on the receptacle, a latch on the cover for interlocking with said lug, and a plunger extending through the wall support for releasing the otherwise inaccessible latch from the lug, the latch including a spring finger engageable by the plunger and actuatable thereby to open the cover incident to release of the latch.

5. A receptacle of the character described adapted to be mounted upon a wall support, the said receptacle having a cover, a hinge interconnecting the cover and receptacle, a lug on the receptacle, a latch on the said cover for interlocking with the said lug and a plunger extending through the wall support for releasing the otherwise inaccessible latch, the latch including a cammed spring finger actuatable by the plunger for opening the cover incident to release of the latch.

6. In delivery receiving boxes, the combination with a container, of a cover plate therefor pivoted to the container, a spring latch finger fixed to the cover and extending therefrom in the direction of linw of travel of the cover during its pivotal movement and transversely of the axis of the pivot, a cooperating catch for engagement with the spring finger to lock the same against movement when the cover is in its position closing the container, the spring finger being curved to provide a camming surface having a component of incline intersecting the lines of travel of the cover during pivotal movement,

whereby pressure exerted laterally against the spring finger at the camming surface will stress the spring finger both laterally and longitudinally, the former to release the engagement of the spring finger with the cooperating catch and the latter to spring the cover plate pivotally away from the latching position of the spring finger.

7. Locking mechanism for compartments and the like, comprising in combination, a closure member for the compartment, cooperating latching instrumentalities disposed interiorly of the compartment and closure member, the instrumentalities including a spring latching finger, and instrumentalities for stressing the said spring finger both laterally and longitudinally to release the engagement of the spring with its cooperating latching instrumentalities and to spring the said closure member away from its closed position.

8. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having a hinged cover adapted to be mounted upon a supporting surface, locking means for securing said cover in closed position, said locking means comprising a catch secured to the inside of said receptacle and closely adjacent the zone of the cover, a resilient member mounted on the cover and movable therewith for engaging said catch to retain the cover locked when in closed position, said resilient member having a part extending below said catch, and means for operating said member to release the lock, which comprises a reciprocable plunger adapted to engage said part to thereby move said member out of engagement with the catch.

JOSEPH I. UNGER. JOHN E. MANN'EN. 

